Ukraine has recognized the first composition of the Ethics Council needed for judicial reform
The composition of the Ethics Council was formed, which is designed to establish the compliance of a candidate for the position of a member of the High Council of Justice with the criteria of professional ethics and integrity.
About this reported press service of the President’s Office.
On November 2, the High Council of Justice received a list of candidates for the Ethics Council recommended by the Council of Judges of Ukraine. International and foreign organizations have identified a list of international experts on September 10, 2021.
Members of the Ethics Council were:
- Judge of the Supreme Court in the Criminal Court of Cassation Lev Kishakevych;
- Judge of the Kyiv Court of Appeal Yuriy Tryasun;
- retired judge of the Eastern Commercial Court of Appeal Volodymyr Siverin;
- retired Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Robert Cordy;
- Retired Judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales Sir Anthony Hooper;
- former Estonian Attorney General Lavli Perling.
“I hope that the Ethics Council will start its work as soon as possible. Despite the significant, we can begin some opposite stages of initial changes in the judiciary. “, President – President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In his opinion, the formation of a virtuous council of judges and the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine will help restore Ukrainians’ trust in the judiciary and achieve further purification.
Disrepute?
How writes “Center for Combating Corruption”, at least two of them without a doubt of reputation and, apparently, inconsistent criteria of integrity.
The CPC notes that Tryasun passed a “fake” qualification assessment in November 2016 – it did not provide for public participation and dismissal of dishonest judges.
According to the Judge’s Declaration, Tryasun’s brother has been working in the “Dear Brother” special unit since at least 2012.
And in 2016, Tryasun, a member of the panel of judges, released a Berkut member accused of the February 18, 2014 murders in Kriposny Lane in Kyiv.
And here Severin, for data DEJURE Foundation, has repeatedly made arbitrary decisions. The CPC notes that the chief of staff of the court complained that, as chairman of the court, Severin allegedly put pressure on court employees and incited them to act outside their powers, in particular to participate in the automated case distribution system.
What should GRP do?
It is a collegial independent body of judicial organization. It consists of 21 members, ten of whom are elected at the Congress of Judges of Ukraine from among judges or retired judges.
Two members are elected by the President, the Verkhovna Rada, the Congress of Advocates, the All-Ukrainian Conference of Prosecutors, and the Congress of Representatives of Legal Higher Educational Institutions and Scientific Institutions. The GRP also includes the chairman of the Supreme Court.
The GRP appoints members of the High Qualifications Commission (HQCC), who are elected for a four-year term based on the results. GRP members will also appoint members of the tender commission.
VKKS, for its part, is engaged in the selection of new and re-certification of existing judges. The law stipulates that the HCCJ must be composed of 16 members and that eight may be elected from among judges or retired judges.